Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

Chapter 178: Chapter 73: Xiao Mei, Who Are You Really? (Part 2)

Jie Jingchen simply told her the truth, whispering, ”Hu Wan’er had a miscarriage.”

”What?” Qin Mei couldn’t stay calm. She took a deep breath and lowered her voice. ”The powder only induces unconsciousness; it wouldn’t cause a miscarriage. Wait... Hu Wan’er was pregnant? Who’s the father?”

The news that Hu Wan’er was pregnant was a bombshell.

She still bore an undeniable responsibility for Hu Wan’er’s miscarriage.

”I don’t know.” Jie Jingchen shook his head. He truly didn’t know.

”I need some quiet.” Qin Mei pushed Jie Jingchen away and walked toward Jie Jingshan’s room in a daze.

Seeing Qin Mei go into Jie Jingshan’s room, Jie Jingjue brought a bowl of medicine over to Jing Qi’s room.

”Fourth Sister-in-law, here’s Jing Qi’s medicine.” Jie Jingjue handed the bowl to Jing Qi. Then, noticing Qin Mei looked unwell, he asked worriedly, ”Fourth Sister-in-law, are you all right?”

”Jing Wu, what happened with Hu Wan’er’s miscarriage?” Qin Mei asked Jie Jingjue.

Jie Jingjue was taken aback for a moment, then whispered, ”Our cousin Wan’er went to the bathroom in the middle of the night and fell...”

”She deserved it,” Jie Jingshan cut in expressionlessly.

Jie Jingjue and Qin Mei both looked at Jie Jingshan. Such cold words shouldn’t have come from her.

”She got pregnant without being married, and Aunt Zhang brought her to the Jie family to seduce Fourth Brother. You know better than I do what that mother and daughter are up to.” Jie Jingshan’s words were surprisingly mature for her age.

”Jing Qi,” Jie Jingjue said, looking troubled. As her Fifth Brother, he truly didn’t know what to say to that.

”Jing Qi, drink your medicine. I’ll give you your acupuncture treatment after you finish, and then we’ll go out.” Qin Mei changed the subject. ’I’ll deal with problems as they come. If this is my responsibility, I won’t run from it.’

Jie Jingshan did as Qin Mei said, tilting her head back and downing the bitter medicine. She handed the empty bowl to Jie Jingjue.

Jie Jingjue left with the empty bowl. As Qin Mei began Jie Jingshan’s acupuncture, inserting the first needle, Jie Jingshan spoke up to comfort her. ”Fourth Sister-in-law, don’t feel guilty. She’s not worth it.”

Qin Mei’s hand paused. She lifted her eyes, glanced at Jie Jingshan, and pressed her lips together without a word.

”Fourth Sister-in-law, even without you, she wouldn’t have kept the child,” Jie Jingshan continued to console her.

Qin Mei smiled bitterly. ’There was a difference between Hu Wan’er choosing to get rid of the baby herself and me unintentionally causing her to lose it. At least, there was a difference to her.’

”Fourth Sister-in-law...”

”Shh.” Qin Mei put a finger to her lips, silencing Jie Jingshan.

Jie Jingshan tactfully fell silent and didn’t speak again until Qin Mei had finished the treatment.

Qin Mei gave one thousand to Jie Jingchen, kept one hundred for herself, and deposited the remaining three thousand in the bank.

Mr. Xie hadn’t taken the car to work, leaving it for them. Now Qin Mei understood why Jie Jingchen had sent Jing Wu along. ’He’s our chauffeur. But I know how to drive, so we don’t really need him.’

After depositing the money, Jing Wu took them to a state-owned restaurant for a meal. Once they’d eaten their fill, he asked where they wanted to go next. Qin Mei said she wanted to go to the hospital. When they arrived, she told Jing Wu to wait in the car with Jing Qi.

”Jing Qi, why do you think Fourth Sister-in-law came to the hospital?” Jie Jingjue asked, watching Qin Mei’s retreating figure disappear through the main entrance. He turned to look at Jie Jingshan in the back seat.

”To see a doctor,” Jie Jingshan replied. She was leaning against the window, her large, clear eyes full of concern.

”Fourth Sister-in-law is sick?” Jie Jingjue asked with a smile.

Jie Jingshan waited until Qin Mei’s figure had disappeared from sight before lowering her gaze to glare at Jie Jingjue. ”You’re the one who’s sick!”

Jie Jingjue’s mouth twitched. ”Jing Qi,” he said helplessly, ”I’m your Fifth Brother. Your actual, blood-related Fifth Brother.”

Jie Jingshan fell silent, closing her eyes to rest. Seeing this, Jie Jingjue turned back to the front. His long, slender fingers tapped a rhythm on the steering wheel, a playful glint in his eyes.

Qin Mei knew the way and easily found Mrs. Xie’s office. ”Mom.”

Mrs. Xie looked up. Seeing it was Qin Mei, her eyes flickered as she rose and walked toward her.

”Xiao Mei, what are you doing here? Are you alone?” Seeing no one behind Qin Mei, Mrs. Xie’s expression darkened. ”Xiao Mei, Xu Anshan has been released. It’s not safe for you to be out by yourself.”

”Don’t worry, Mom. Jing Wu and Jing Qi are waiting for me in the car.” Qin Mei grabbed her mother-in-law’s arm and asked worriedly, ”Is Hu Wan’er all right?”

Realizing Qin Mei was here about Hu Wan’er, Mrs. Xie pulled her into the office and shut the door. ”Xiao Mei, did you have anything to do with Hu Wan’er’s miscarriage?”

After a moment’s thought, Qin Mei told Mrs. Xie the truth. Whether or not Hu Wan’er had ever intended to keep the baby, Qin Mei’s conscience was troubled because she had played a part in the miscarriage.

’If I had known she was pregnant beforehand, I wouldn’t have gotten angry about her cutting in line for the bathroom and hogging it. I’m usually very patient with pregnant women.’

’The thought of an innocent child, gone because of her... it made her heart ache.’